News on Mobile OS Releases, April 2021

Android 12 

Android 12 Developer Preview 3

Google has released the third developer preview for Android 12, with several new features. It has introduced updates that allow developers to get more out of a smartphone’s camera and haptic hardware. Google is providing more feedback options for UI events, gaming, and productivity. Android 12 Developer Preview 3 also introduces improved camera support, including for ultra high-resolution camera sensors.

Google said Android 12 will introduce new platform APIs that let third-party apps take full advantage of these versatile sensors. That will hopefully mean better performance from third-party camera apps.

Full content and details (external sources): XDADevelopers

Android 12 DP3: rounded ‘bubbly’ corners now used with all key UI elements

Android 12 is set to provide some of the most extensive UI tweaks and redesigns, with a wide array of UI elements and menus receiving a larger “bubbly” look in the latest Developer Preview 3. A large number of the most prominent UI elements, dialog boxes, and menus, including the pop-up side volume panel, are on the receiving end of these changes in Android 12 DP3.

Full content and details (external sources): 9to5Google

Apple iOS 

iOS 14.5

Apple started testing iOS 14.5 almost three months ago. This version is available for all the iPhones running iOS 14 (iPhone 6s or newer). iOS 14.5 brings support to unlock your iPhone with the Apple Watch while wearing a mask, 200+ new emojis, dual-SIM 5G support, new voices to Siri, and a Podcast and Music apps update.

Full content and details (external sources): 9to5Mac

iOS 15 is rumored to revamp notifications

With iOS 15, Apple is rumored to debut a new feature that will allow the user to set different notification preferences depending on your current status, and update said status easily from the lock screen or the control center. Presumably the user would also be able to use Siri to quickly change the status. Such a status could be "driving", "working", "sleeping", or a custom category of your choosing.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

HarmonyOS 2.0 

Huawei started to push the third build of the HarmonyOS mobile developer beta

The build adds over 1000 APIs to the system, some other optimizations as well as changes to the software system to provide better support to the developers. This new beta build also brings a feature called “Super Terminal”, an option directly embedded into the main Settings menu. It allows users to automatically connect all nearby Huawei devices including: Phones, Tablets, Batteries, Speakers, Computers, Cameras.

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiCentral

Honor 9X caught running HarmonyOS mobile developer beta

A well-known Weibo tipster – Changan Digital King shared a screenshot of the Honor 9X device. And the users may be shocked after knowing that this device caught running on HarmonyOS mobile developer beta, which is really surprising. According to the screenshot shared by the tipster, the device has the HarmonyOS Developer Beta build with version 2.0.0.46, which is the latest developer beta update.

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiCentral

Huawei HiSuite reveals Huawei P40 Pro with Harmony OS 2.0

The screenshot shared by a user reveals the Huawei HiSuite app that now identifies the Huawei P40 Pro device (ELS-AN00) with HarmonyOS 2.0 kernel. Aside from the P40 Pro, the Huawei P30 also spotted recently with the HarmonyOS kernel.

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiUpdate

EMUI11

EMUI 11 Official Rollout Schedule, Eligible Devices and Regions/Countries

Huawei has already distributed stable EMUI 11 for the Huawei P40 and Mate 30 series devices in China and the company has released the stable EMUI 11 version for these flagships in the global market. Following these smartphones, the company is also expanding EMUI 11 for the Huawei P30 and Mate 20 smartphones in different regions.

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiCentral

Huawei Nova 5T smartphone upgrading over EMUI 11 in Eastern Europe

According to the latest information, EMUI 11 is expanding to the eastern European market, specifically in the Baltics for Huawei Nova 5T smartphones. As of now, Huawei has EMUI 11 latest custom OS that has reached the UK, Europe, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, Latin America, New Zealand, and more.

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiCentral